ISI engages with the Western Cape First Nations Collective Trust

On Tuesday, 29 July 2025.  Mr Daryl Swanepoel, our CEO and Mrs Berenice Marks were honoured to be invited by the Western Cape First Nations Collective Trust to attend the opening of the First Nations Heritage Centre at Riverlands, Observatory.

The opening featured an exhibition “Ancient Legacies and Modern Identities” which is a celebration of the heritage and culture of South Africa’s Foundational Peoples.

Distinguished speaker included Queen Katrina Esau, Head of the Royal House of Nǁnǂe, Mr Petrus Vaalbooi, Traditional Leader of the Kalahari Boesmans as well Chief !Garu Zenzile Khoisan, Chairman of the Western Cape First Nations Collective.

A significant highlight of the occasion was the handover of the Heritage Centre by the Developer, Mr Jody Aufrichtig to the Western Cape First Nations Collective Trust which will be the custodian of the centre and its surrounding heritage features.

On the following day Wednesday, 30 July, Mr Swanepoel and Mrs Marks met with Chief !Garu Zenzile Khoisan and Mr. Charles Quint to discuss an upcoming exhibition of the First Nations at The Institute of African Studies, Zhejiang Normal University, in Jinhua, Zhejiang, China and other synergies for future cooperation.  The meeting was highly productive, and we look forward to collaborating on the China exhibition project as well as future initiatives.